Kraybill, Arthur S. (1920-2008)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2008 Sep 1 p. 13

Birth date: 1920 mar 10

text of obituary:

ARTHUR S. KRAYBILL

Arthur S. Kraybill, 88, of Sarasota, Fla., died Aug. 4, 2008. He was born March 10, 1920, to B. Lehman and Bertha Kraybill in Mount Joy, Pa.

In his early years he accepted Christ and never wavered from that commitment. In 1943 he married Rachel Shearer, and they celebrated 65 years of marriage.

In his early years he was a gifted salesperson. Later he served a Civilian Public Service term at a psychiatric hospital. Then he and Rachel returned to Mount Joy. They purchased a small farm near Elizabethtown, raising asparagus as a main crop, but they also had poultry and sold eggs. In 1954 he contracted polio, which affected his walking.

They accepted a call from Eastern Mennonite Missions to serve as house parents for missionary children in Honduras and were there for several years. When they returned to the United States they settled in Florida, and he became a business manager for the Southern Mennonite Camp Association. He served on various church boards such as for Southeast Mennonite Conference and the Bahia Vista Mennonite Church council, and was a Sunday school superintendent and teacher. He was a supporter of Choice Books. He also was a real estate sales person in Sarasota. During their retirement years they spent some years in Harrisonburg, Va., and Atlanta, Ga., before returning to live in Sarasota again.

Survivors include his wife, Rachel; a daughter, Donna Godfrey and her husband, John, of Atlanta; a brother, Benjamin Kraybill of Palmyra, Pa.; a sister, Rachel of Lititz, Pa.; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held at Bahia Vista Mennonite Church. Burial was in Harrisonburg, Va.